Students, do you have an internship set up yet? Even though summer break is underway, you may still be able to organize a work-learning experience. The key to success will be to keep your expectations in hand. That’s code for, “Don’t be too choosy.”

That’s not to say that great experiences aren’t available — just don’t pre-judge the situation or you’ll find yourself without options. Some of the best learning experiences are those that aren’t well marketed by the organization. In the same light, don’t worry if it’s too late to organize college credit for the internship. You’ll have other opportunities for that, so just enjoy whatever experience you can arrange in a short timeframe.

Here are some tips to help you find and manage an internship, even at this late date.

Finding an opportunity

1. Check job boards and websites. Although I’m usually reluctant to recommend online processes, in this case job boards might hasten your search. Streamline the process by typing the word “internship” into any and all search boxes you encounter.

Once you see an appealing option, call the organization to inquire if the position is still open. Since time is short, ask if you may send your résumé and letter to anyone directly.

2. Talk to people you know. Your friends, your parents, your friends’ parents … basically anyone with a job is a good prospect for this simple question: “Would your employer consider using interns?” And then, “Can you help me make contact?”

3. Contact companies near your home. Another option for finding an internship is to create a short letter of introduction stating your interest in arranging an internship. This may be less successful than the other two options, simply because time isn’t on your side. If you go this route, be sure to contact several places at once and follow up quickly with each one.

Arranging the internship

4. Define your learning objectives. If you were starting a search in January, focusing on one topic — say, social media marketing– could pan out. But this late in the game, you’ll make better progress by putting your goals in less specific terms. Practice framing sentences that start with a general goal: “To learn more about how business teams work together,” or “To see first-hand how a small company operates,” and which end with one of your skills — “where I could use my database and customer service skills” or “where my strengths in business writing can be utilized.”

Remember that some of the most interesting opportunities might be with organizations with no formal internship program. In that case, it will be up to you to suggest ways you could be of help, based on your skill set.

5. Discuss your objectives with your potential boss. The time to talk about your internship goals is before you come on board. That lets your new boss or mentor identify which tasks and processes would match your mutual objectives. Internship hours can range from just half a day per week all the way to full-time, so this is also the right time to discuss expectations for your work schedule.

6. Decide what to do about compensation. There are a number of ways to be compensated as an intern, as well as some relatively new federal labor laws governing the relationship. As the intern, the legal side isn’t your obligation. But you need to decide if being paid is critical to accepting the position. No doubt, being paid is optimal, but if you feel the experience or contacts would be compensation enough, you might have more opportunities available to you.

Conducting the internship

7. Be reliable, friendly and open. Even if you’re working for free or logging only a few hours a week, your approach will be noted by those around you.

8. Take notes and refer to them often. You’ll be getting a lot of instructions in short bursts, so get used to carrying a pocket notebook. Without it, you’ll be forced to ask for repeat instructions on everything, which will definitely get old.

Ending the internship

9. Check in two weeks before your last day. Whatever your schedule or duties, the time will fly by quickly, especially from your boss’ perspective. Two weeks before you’re expecting to leave, ask for a meeting. This is where you can request letters of recommendation, as well as general advice or feedback on your work. You can also ask for career advice or tips for future work.

10. Write thank-you letters. It’s a classy and memorable touch to leave a thank you card on your boss’ desk on your last day. You might do the same for co-workers who have been very helpful, or others you want to stay in touch with.

Amy Lindgren owns a career consulting firm in St. Paul. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecareerservice.com.

Amy Lindgren owns a career consulting firm in St. Paul and writes a weekly column for the Pioneer Press.

As you comment, please be respectful of other commenters and other viewpoints. Our goal with article comments is to provide a space for civil, informative and constructive conversations. We reserve the right to remove any comment we deem to be defamatory, rude, insulting to others, hateful, off-topic or reckless to the community. See our full terms of use here.

More in Business

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton on Wednesday asked state lawmakers for $10 million to keep fixing the state’s messed-up license plate computer system. And he wants the money, like, today. Which has Republican lawmakers seething. QUICK BACKGROUND The state’s new $93 million computer system for license plates and vehicle titles, known as MNLARS, has been troubled by glitches since its July...

The parent group of Minnesota Public Radio is opening an innovation center — a testing lab and co-working space for startup ventures — in downtown St. Paul’s former Ecolab Tower on Wabasha Street. American Public Media plans to open the Glen Nelson Center in the recently renovated Osborn370 building this summer. Backed by philanthropic foundations, the center will invest in...

Sun Country Airlines is cutting 350 workers from its ground service operations at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The Eagan-based company told employees Tuesday it will contract those jobs out to Global Aviation Services Inc. Executives say the move will make Sun County more efficient. Layoffs begin immediately, with workers able to reapply for positions with Global Aviation as soon as...

The $5 billion trial against 3M has been postponed, and an announcement regarding the case has been scheduled for 3:30 p.m. today. The trial was scheduled to begin this morning, but Hennepin County District Judge Kevin Burke delayed it. KSTP-TV news reported that the announcement would involve both 3M and the state Attorney General, but it is not known what...

The rate of Minnesotans without health insurance surged last year to 6.3 percent, one of the largest one-time increases since 2001. There are now about 349,000 Minnesotans without health insurance coverage, according to a Minnesota Department of Health and University of Minnesota survey released Tuesday. Minnesota’s uninsured rate stood at 4.3 percent in 2015, the last year the study was conducted....

A “Stranger Things” throwback hoodie is coming to a Target near you. Target said Monday that it will offer the purple dinosaur hoodie, which was sold by the Science Museum of Minnesota in its St. Paul gift shop during the 1980s. The nerdy garment was made famous again when Dustin, a character in Netflix’s “Stranger Things” sci-fi-horror series, was seen...